Building a Compost Heap

Choose a location for your bin that has good drainage and at least partial sunlight. Place the bin 8 to 12 inches away from fences, decks, and buildings to discourage pests. Line the bottom of the bin with 6 inches of cornstalks, coarse twigs, or chopped brush. Add a few inches of fruit and vegetable scraps, grass clippings, tea leaves or bags, or coffee grounds, then twice as much fallen leaves, pine needles, cornstalks, wood ashes, paper egg cartons, twigs and branches, sawdust, wood chips and shavings, dryer lint, or finely shredded newsprint.